Clockwork Orange

/
8 Comments


Hey guys! In my previous posts I wrote mainly about movies that were not based on novels, but were strictly screenplays. Usually I prefer the book rather than the movie based on it, but this week I am here to review a movie, another classic, that is based on a novel. The art work, the costumes, the director and the acting skills in this movie are amazing. So here, a pretty old movie, but nonetheless worth to watch; Clockwork Orange.


I will be completely honest with you, I was not sure how I felt about this movie the first time I watched it, most likely because I was too young. If you can’t stand violence, will get triggered from a rape scene, and of a weak heart.. DO NOT WATCH IT. This movie is not made to make you laugh, but to question yourself, humanity and also question authority, how the government works and so on. You will leave this movie with a slight trauma, but with a mind full of thoughts. In Lucio’s words (from the video game-Overwatch) Let’s break it down:



The movie, created by the very famous Stanley Kubrick, and it is an adaptation to a novel of the same name, by Anthony Burgess. It is a crime movie, that displays a dystopia- hence highlighting all the problems in the society and showcases them in the ‘extreme’.

The Plot- (again without spoiling too much for you guys)

The movie focuses on Alex DeLarge, a leader of a gang named “droogs” (sounds similar to the word friends in Russian), that consists three more young men and is set in futuristic Britain. In the first part of the film, it follows the horror and the crimes they conduct, I find that the first half of the movie does everything in it’s power to make the audience hate Alex, and wish for a terrible ending for him. But as the film progresses the viewer begins to find empty towards Alex, because later he becomes the ‘victim’, mainly by the authority, his past victims and even his past gang members. I don’t want to get in to too much detail to not ruin the movie for those who did not watch, so I will try to cover some important themes from this movie.



This film is fulled with deep social and psychological meaning, so.. as I have said, don’t watch it, if you think you won’t be able to process it, or if this might trigger you.

Kubrik’s use of colours in the movie, especially the white colours, is astonishing, and very aesthetically pleasing. The white milk (laced with drugs) the droogs are drinking, the white outfits they are wearing, the white make up, white light, white cats and spit. Every shot is filled with contrasting colours that take my breath away, Alex’s dark black lashes on one eye, that contradict all the white, their black hats, and boots. Also the bright artificial colours are also a theme that repeats, which is suitable if we think about the name of the movie and the novel, the bright colour of an orange makes an appearance throughout the film, through different verity of vibrant colours. With the whites Kubrik manages to emphasise the futuristic vibe of the movie, and combine an eye pleasing film, even though it is filled with violence. Speaking of violence,









As I have mentioned Clockwork Orange is filled with violence; his way to showcase the violence raised controversy throughout the decades since the movie was out, it received an X rating in the States, that Kubrik was protesting against, he published a cut version that got an R rating and was published worldwide. Nevertheless the uncut version still received 4 Oscar nominations. But even though the film is filled with violence, in a weird, and a messed up way, Kubrik makes it seems poetic in a way, some of the violent scenes look like a “dance” between the victims and the Droogs.




Kubrik also mixed between pop art, through the filters, the colours, one of the victims is an artist that is focusing on phallic statues, and the classics, Alex’s cultural taste includes his favourite piece Symphony number 9, by Chopin that filled the audio of the film. He also references to other famous classics, like “Singing in the Rain”, (a song from a famous American musical with the same name), that Alex sings while demonstrating terrible violent act, or while singing in the shower. This combination is interesting and in a way also reflects the film it self, it shows the different depths the characters have, and how the movie makes more than a shallow point, but has a lot if psychological meaning. Some of the brutal scenes even left an impact on the actors, Malcolm McDowell (Alex) couldn’t watch the film for a few years, and even injured his eyes, from the scene he got “reprogrammed” in a way.




This film is very interesting, and causes the viewer a lot of discomfort, so be aware, but if you think you can manage it, GO AHEAD and watch it, and even re-watch it. It’s a harsh film, but it does the work, it manages to criticise a lot of different things, including the human behaviour, politics and the government. After watching the film the second time I was really able to appreciate the message it has, so much so, that on my second Halloween in Canada, I even dressed like Alex, tell me if you think I managed to do so. Did you guys watch the movie? What did you think about it? And if you didn’t, are you planning to?




(Here I am trying to be Alex)





Comment what you think! <3 Cheers


You may also like

8 comments:

  1. This is yet another movie to add to my list. I’ve definitely heard of this one (and I plan to watch it eventually), and I’ve also heard about how wild it is, so I’m glad you included a lot of warnings so that people know what they’re getting into if they go to watch this movie. The discussion of the use of colour in the movie was really interesting, as I personally love when directors use colourful in a meaningful way. I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts for this class - I feel like a learned some things about film, and I’m more motivated to go watch these movies eventually.
    Also, by the way, I love the Halloween costume :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, I was happy that I could make my own costume, and be Alex for a day hehe. I'm sure you will, well I don't know if enjoy is the right word, but definitely appreciate the art behind the movie.
      <3

      Delete
  2. Excellent description of Kubrik’s use of colours in the movie. I would never really pay attention to that much detail, but I appreciate the fact that you do and this adds another layer of understanding to my knowledge of the movie. I have seen this several times and each time I watch it the movie takes on new meaning probably because I understand more of the subtleties and am able to watch it more critically as I get older. Kubrick’s use of power and violence to illustrate dystopia is still relevant to today’s audience and just as entertaining as ever.

    Great movie and you do an amazing job analyzing it and bringing it to life as seen in your Hallowe’en costume.
    James

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! it is moving art this movie. And hey! Welcome fellow Clockwork Orange fan! :P
      And thank you for the costume praise, I don't know how much I brought it to life, rather than was super joyful that I decided to dress like that lol

      Delete
  3. As always I appreciate how you defend your passion for the movies you review. If I am being honest this is not likely to be a movie that I would choose to watch. Based on the description and the violence it is probably not something that would appeal to me. Great use of gifs I think they are the perfect visual piece to use in conjunction with your blog. I also liked that you included personal touches throughout the semester. Now that the course is over I will have time to watch the movies added to my list. I hope you keep up the blog because I will keep tuning in.

    Have a wonderful summer!

    Nicole

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I hope you will enjoy all these movies, I sure did, and rewatching them before writing these posts, only added to the fun of this course. Have a great summer! <3 And I'm definitely considering keeping up with this blog, this was fun! So I hope I will see you around :)

      Delete
  4. Clockwork Orange is one of those movies that I don't feel I personally identify with but still respect. Unlike a lot of classic movies where I question why it's classic or regarded as good (It's a Wonderful Life comes to mind), this movie clearly made leaps and bounds in many ways, and Wendy Carlos' musical additions to the piece made it what it was in my opinion. I also was under the impression that the term 'droog' was inspired by the welsh word for 'bad' ('drwg, pronounced the exact same way), and that it was using the word to explain how the droogs knew they were the bad guys but didn't care, but enh, that's what I get for presuming. I learned something new today.

    Interesting choice to end on this movie. I love classic movies as well, but love that your choice of movies got bolder and bolder as the month progressed. I'll probably need to watch this movie a second time to get a lot of the same sensations you felt watching it again. All the best to you, I hope your favorite cinematic experiences are yet to come.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are a few Russian language references in the movie, like the Korova Milk Bar; Korova means a cow in Russian, not super creative this one is, but you know.. and YES watch it the second time, I appreciated this movie a lot more after my second (or third) watch.

      <3

      Delete